University of Kentucky

ZRG Partners, LLC.; Lexington (KY); On-site; USD 180,000 - 320,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Kentucky Athletics seeks a senior executive to lead commercial strategy and external operations, guiding revenue growth, partnerships, multimedia rights, licensing, and related ventures. The role collaborates with university and external partners to ensure cohesive brand, marketing, and fan experience across platforms.

Reporting to the Director of Athletics, the CCO will oversee budgets, develop a high-performance team, and ensure alignment with university-wide services while

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; MBA or related advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in commercial leadership, marketing, or external affairs roles, preferably in collegiate athletics, professional sports, or related industries.
• Proven track record in revenue generation, sponsorship/partnership execution, and brand/marketing strategy.
• Experience operating across or in coordination with a separate corporate/commercial entity (e.g., a university athletics commercial subsidiary or multimedia rights company) strongly preferred.
• Strong executive presence; demonstrated ability to represent a department and its commercial subsidiary externally with media, partners, and university leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead the department's overall commercial strategy and enterprise strategy driving revenue growth with JMIS across sponsorship/corporate partnerships, multimedia rights, licensing, and other commercial ventures.
• Lead deal-sourcing, structuring, and negotiation for major commercial partnerships and rights agreements for the department.
• Set and monitor commercial performance targets, using data and analytics to evaluate deal performance and identify new revenue opportunities.
• Direct the department's brand, marketing, communications, and fan experience functions, in collaboration with the University’s Shared and Central Services.
• Ensure consistent brand messaging and a cohesive fan and stakeholder experience across all touchpoints (digital, broadcast, live events).
• Align brand and marketing strategy and resource allocation with the University’s Shared and Central Services, ensuring initiatives are integrated and non-duplicative across the enterprise.
• Establish communication protocols and shared timelines with Beyond Blue's marketing function to keep execution aligned and remove bottlenecks.
• Partner with the Director of Athletics and working with the integrated marketing and strategic communications team to align commercial strategy with the department's overall mission and revenue goals.
• Manage budgets across commercial operations and external affairs functions.
• Build, lead, and develop a multidisciplinary team spanning commercial, marketing, communications, and fan experience.
• Provide daily direction for assigned sport program as assigned.

Education

Bachelor's degree; MBA preferred

Job description

Serves as the senior commercial and external-facing executive for UK Athletics, holding one integrated scope of responsibility across commercial strategy and external operations. Leads the department's commercial strategy and revenue growth responsibilities, working with JMIS to guide sponsorship/corporate partnerships, multimedia and licensing rights, and other commercial ventures, while also coordinating the department's brand, marketing, communications, and fan experience direction. Under the direction of the Director of Athletics and in alignment with the University’s Shared and Central Services, the CCO will work to position commercial priorities to support the department's broader mission and ensure consistent commercial execution across the enterprise.

Essential Functions

• Lead the department's overall commercial strategy and enterprise strategy driving revenue growth with JMIS across sponsorship/corporate partnerships, multimedia rights, licensing, and other commercial ventures.
• Lead deal-sourcing, structuring, and negotiation for major commercial partnerships and rights agreements for the department.
• Set and monitor commercial performance targets, using data and analytics to evaluate deal performance and identify new revenue opportunities.
• Direct the department's brand, marketing, communications, and fan experience functions, in collaboration with the University’s Shared and Central Services.
• Ensure consistent brand messaging and a cohesive fan and stakeholder experience across all touchpoints (digital, broadcast, live events).
• Align brand and marketing strategy and resource allocation with the University’s Shared and Central Services, ensuring initiatives are integrated and non-duplicative across the enterprise.
• Establish communication protocols and shared timelines with Beyond Blue's marketing function to keep execution aligned and remove bottlenecks.
• Partner with the Director of Athletics and working with the integrated marketing and strategic communications team to align commercial strategy with the department's overall mission and revenue goals.
• Manage budgets across commercial operations and external affairs functions.
• Build, lead, and develop a multidisciplinary team spanning commercial, marketing, communications, and fan experience.
• Provide daily direction for assigned sport program as assigned.

Education Requirement

Bachelor's degree required; MBA or related advanced degree preferred.

Experience Requirement

10+ years of progressive experience in commercial leadership, marketing, or external affairs roles, preferably in collegiate athletics, professional sports, or related industries.

Proven track record in revenue generation, sponsorship/partnership execution, and brand/marketing strategy.

Experience operating across or in coordination with a separate corporate/commercial entity (e.g., a university athletics commercial subsidiary or multimedia rights company) strongly preferred.

Strong executive presence; demonstrated ability to represent a department and its commercial subsidiary externally with media, partners, and university leadership.

Demonstrated ability to lead and align cross-functional teams spanning multiple business units.

An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

All experience must be paid and in the same related field.

Part‑time and PRN experience will be prorated based on hours worked per week.

Volunteer work and internships for academic credit are not counted.

Certifications & Licensures

n/a

Working Conditions

A. Lifting, pushing, and/or pulling objects up to 50lbs: 1. Never
B. Lifting, pushing, and/or pulling objects over 50lbs: 1. Never
C. Standing or walking with objects up to 10lbs: 2. Occasional (<10% of the time)
D. Standing or walking with objects up to 25lbs: 1. Never
E. Sitting at computer workstation for extended periods: 4. Regular (>50% of the time)
F. Risk of back injury from moving, lifting or positioning patients, equipment, or materials: 1. Never
G. Repetitive motion: 4. Regular (>50% of the time)
H. Working at heights above 4 feet: 1. Never
I. Working in confined spaces: 1. Never
J. Risk of injuries from use of equipment on the job: 1. Never
K. Job-related travel: 3. Intermittent (10% - 50% of the time)
L. Loud noises: 2. Occasional (<10% of the time)
M. Temperature extremes: 1. Never
N. Hazardous chemicals and fumes including waste: 1. Never
O. Radiation: 1. Never
P. Burns: 1. Never
Q. Cuts/Punctures: 1. Never
R. Bloodborne/airborne pathogens: 1. Never
S. Recombinant DNA or viral vectors: 1. Never
T. Combative/violent people: 1. Never
U. Animal handling (including carcasses): 1. Never
V. Please specify other(s) and amount of exposure (i.e. Occasional, Intermittent or Regular): Evening, weekend, recruiting, competition, negotiation, and athletics event activities; Intermittent (10% - 50% of the time).

Working Conditions

This position requires regular sitting at a computer workstation for extended periods of time; performing tasks with regular repetitive motions such as typing, reviewing contracts, conducting financial analyses, and utilizing technology systems; and occasional standing and walking during meetings, athletics events, recruiting activities, and related functions. The position requires extensive interaction with internal and external stakeholders and may involve intermittent travel in support of negotiations, conferences, recruiting activities, athletics events, and organizational meetings. The incumbent must be able to manage multiple priorities, meet critical deadlines, handle confidential information, and effectively operate in a fast-paced and highly competitive athletics environment.

Our University Community

We value the well-being of each of our employees and are dedicated to creating a healthy place for everyone to work, learn and live. In the interest of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our students, employees, patients and visitors, the University of Kentucky is a Tobacco & Drug Free campus.

The University follows both the federal and state Constitutions as well as all applicable federal and state laws on nondiscrimination. The University provides equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information or social or economic status.

Any candidate offered a position may be required to pass pre-employment screenings as mandated by University of Kentucky Human Resources. These screenings may include a national background check and/or drug screen.